Wednesday, November 15, 2017

Love is a high-stakes game.A century and a half ago, Ante Novak died on a Croatian battlefield—and rose three days later as a vampire. Now he haunts Las Vegas, stealing blood and money from drunken gamblers and staying on the fringe of the powerful vampire organization known as the Shadows. His existence feels empty and meaningless until he meets beautiful Peter Gehrardi, who can influence others with his thoughts.An attraction flares instantly, bringing a semblance of life to Ante’s dead heart. But the Shadows want Peter too, and they’re willing to kill to get him. As Ante and Peter flee, they learn more about themselves and each other, and they discover that the world is a stranger place than either of them imagined. With enemies at their heels and old mistakes coming back to exact a price, how can Ante and Peter find sanctuary?
Buy links: Dreamspinner | Amazon US | Amazon UK

Cat gives this one 5 Meows with a 2 Purr heat index...

Ante is almost a century and a half old. He hangs out around the casinos in Vegas to get his meals and money. He figures it's not too bad if the person is so drunk he doesn't remember what he is doing and could be losing it at the gaming tables. He tries to avoid the Shadows but occasionally they make him work for him to stay in their territory.

Peter knows he isn't normal but he never uses his ability to read people and convince them things to harm or to the extreme, just enough to get food and a place to stay.

Ante notices Peter and at first is curious about the beautiful man, one taste he wats more. Then the Shadows call in another favor. Will he turn Peter over to them?

Kim Fielding always has a way with the unusual story and characters and she didn't let me down here. The world building is fabulous. The Shadows have the perfect supernatural Mafia feel, you feel like you are in Vegas, then later we go on a trip to a few other worlds, with ghosts, demons and other creatures. The characters are all intriguing, the plot is interesting, and the romance is sweet yet sexy.

If you are looking for an M/M vampire story or supernatural book I highly recommend this one!

Excerpt...

IT WAS past two in the morning when he found the beautiful man again, and was instantly fascinated. The man wore the same suit, but this time with a blackberry-colored shirt. And instead of card games, he seemed interested in the slots. He wasn’t playing, however—he just strolled slowly back and forth, eyeing the players the way a hungry person might examine a pastry case. Or the way Ante might consider the players if he hadn’t already fed.

He had covertly observed other hunters on a few previous occasions, when the Shadows had sent him after their own errant members. But Ante would have wagered that this particular man was not a vampire, which called into question the reason for the man’s hunt. What was he after, if not blood? Was he a thief?

Ante sat at a slot machine and pretended to play. After a while the man stopped behind a young woman in an American flag–themed tank top. He leaned in close behind her, watching her play, apparently saying something into her ear. When she won what seemed to be a decent-sized jackpot, she jumped up to give him a sloppy hug. Then she handed him the ticket verifying her winnings—and wandered off.

The man glanced at the ticket before slipping it into his inside jacket pocket. With a tiny grin tugging the corner of his mouth, he resumed his hunt.

Over the next hour, Ante watched as two other women and a man handed over their winning tickets. All of them willingly, even happily, although as far as Ante could tell, none of them knew the beautiful man. And then, just as Ante was about to confront him directly, something even more interesting happened. Casino security showed up.

The thing about casinos is that very little goes unobserved; cameras and watchful eyes are everywhere. Ante was lucky in that respect. As long as he moved carefully, he was unobtrusive even to security. But the beautiful man apparently was not, and now two serious-faced middle-aged men in matching suits began asking him questions.

The man in the blackberry shirt smiled. He waved his hands a great deal as he spoke, his expression charming even from afar, and the guards’ shoulders gradually relaxed. After a few minutes, one of them gave him a friendly pat on the arm before both guards strode purposefully away.

The beautiful man’s smile slipped. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and let it out. Then he began to walk away.

Moving quickly, Ante intercepted him and blocked the way.

“Excuse me,” the man said, trying to step around him.

Ante stepped in front of him. “What are you up to?”

“Pardon me?”

“You are very interesting. I cannot figure out what you are doing.”

“I don’t know what you’re—”

Ante crossed his arms and raised his eyebrows. It wasn’t easy to affect such dispassion when Ante yearned to know all of this man’s secrets.

Kim Fielding: Authentic voices and unconventional heroes.

I have lived in Illinois, Oregon, Nebraska, and Croatia, but for a long time now I've called the boring part of California home. I have a husband, two daughters, a day job as a university professor, and a passion for travel. I write in many genres--contemporary, fantasy, paranormal, historical--but no matter when and where my stories are set, I love complex worlds and complicated characters. I think that often it's a person's flaws that make him stronger and more beautiful.

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